Sleep Is Not A Simple Thing For A Warrior
- lesalexa
- Dec 18, 2017
- 1 min read
Sleep is not a simple thing for a warrior,
not like that of a man at peace.
With rifle and knife beside him,
battle memories ringing in his ears,
he must seem alert even when he is not.
He moves and makes wakeful noises,
discouraging enemies hunting, lurking.
When he is exhausted, spent,
dreaming briefly of what he fights for,
he needs a sentry who will not abandon vigilance,
free of artifice and false promises,
When he hurts, he needs the “chuck chuck chuck”
of chopper blades,
brave comrades risking everything for him,
healing hands matched to him in strength,
but not purpose,
to gratefully receive his weary body,
wounded mind.
And when he comes home,
he needs to be rescued again,
forgiven for damage, injury,
flag-draped boxes not his own
before sleep may come
to curl him into the hollow
of its blossoming tree.
Sybilla 9/6/15
Inspired by “Take Me Home, Huey”
http://takemehomehuey.org/take-me-home-huey
by artist Steve maloney